Healthcare services and hospitals under severe pressure

The deteriorating coronavirus situation in Ostrobothnia has pushed the performance of healthcare services and hospitals to the extreme. Increasingly, there are also healthcare personnel among the sick and exposed. Individual departments have already had to close in the Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia.

– We are in a serious situation. It is now vital that everyone plays their part in preventing the virus from spreading. Even if the risk of serious illness seems small from one’s personal point of view, the spread of the virus has serious effects, says the director of the Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia, Marina Kinnunen.

The situation has far-reaching implications for businesses and public sector services

In addition to healthcare services and hospitals, exposure to the spread of the virus is having a wide impact on other industries. The situation affects both the operations of companies and public sector services.

It was decided to follow the national guideline with regard to classroom teaching, but to follow the situation closely. In addition, new recommendations can be introduced if necessary.

If necessary, the situation will be reassessed next time on Friday 7 January, when the Ostrobothnia Corona Coordination Group will meet again.

The recommendations and restrictions in force in the Ostrobothnia region can be read on the Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia’s website. The site also shows that Ostrobothnia has met the criteria for an area in the community transmission phase.

For travel, countries with a high risk of coronavirus infection can be checked on the THL website.

Compilation of coronavirus indicators in Ostrobothnia

Epidemiological criteria for spreading regions: Reached in Ostrobothnia (Ostrobothnia is an area in the community transmission phase).

Total number of coronavirus infections: 6441 (Tuesday, 4 January  2022)

Regional incidence (14 days): 895 (Tuesday, 4 January )

Proportion of positive samples (last week, mean): 19.9%

Coronavirus vaccinations in the region (NOTE! Over 12-year-olds): Of the region’s population, 88% has received one dose of the vaccine, 86.1% has received two doses of the vaccine, and 25% has received three doses of the vaccine (3 January 2022).

Meeting participants:

Marina Kinnunen, Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia (ÖVPH), pj., Peter Nieminen, ÖVPH, Juha Salonen, ÖVPH, Marjo Orava, ÖVPH, Heikki Kaukoranta, ÖVPH, Satu Kärki, ÖVPH, Britt-Marie Bjon, ÖVPH, Sofia Svarsjö, ÖVPH , Tomas Häyry, Vaasa, Gun Kapténs, Luoto (Larsmo), Mikaela Björklund, Närpiö (Närpes), Eeva Mäkinen, AVI,  Markus Heinänen, AVI, Dinah Arifulla, THL, Timo Saari, ELY, Petra Fager, ÖVPH, Päivi Berg, Secretary, ÖVPH

Role and composition of the Ostrobothnia Regional Corona Coordination Group

The task of the group is to plan and implement measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in its region. The use of recommendations and restrictive measures requires a comprehensive assessment in which decisions are made and weighed in terms of epidemiological, social and economic impacts and in relation to fundamental rights.